Tuesday, November 8, 2016

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) – The Terre Haute Regional Airport has many updates in the works. But the most recent change comes from safety concerns.The Terre Haute Airport has three runways and one is in need of a facelift.“Really our main concern with this was safety,” said the Executive Director of Terre Haute Regional Airport, Jeff Hauser.Aside from the crumbling pavement and expensive upkeep, the risks with this runway created concern.“One of our runways, our third and shortest runway, has what they call a hotspot in it,” said Hauser.Airport officials like Jeff Hauser say a hotspot is where two runways intersect at a 45-degree angle instead of a 90-degree angle. This creates a risk and confusion for the pilots.“Depending on the wind, the wind could turn them at an angle where it looks like they’re landing on the right runway when really they’re on the wrong one,” said Hauser.Thanks to a new federal grant, the airport is transforming this runway into a taxiway. The federal government awarded the airport with a $3.5 million grant for the project.“Our two main runways are in great shape, but the age on this one was starting to show and without that federal aid we weren’t able to take care of it,” said Hauser.The new area will be a designated spot for planes to get to one of the two main runways. A transformation that will keep the airport in line with the most recent FAA guidelines.“Inherently there’s always going to be risks in flying but if we can eliminate as many as possible it just makes it much safer for everyone,” said Hauser.Ensuring every takeoff and landing is a smooth ride.Construction will begin in the spring. Airport officials say sections of the runway will be closed but the airport as a whole will remain open. This project is expected to be completed by the end of summer.Source: http://wthitv.com

Beegles Aircraft Service Inc: http://registry.faa.gov/N6702RNTSB Identification: WPR17LA01714 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Sunday, November 06, 2016 in Twentynine Palms, CAAircraft: CESSNA T210, registration: N6702RInjuries: 1 Uninjured.This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.On November 6, 2016, about 0900 Pacific standard time, a Cessna T210F, N6702R, departed the runway after the right main landing gear collapsed during a precautionary landing at Crosswinds Airport, Twentynine Palms, California. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and firewall during the accident sequence. The flight departed Twentynine Palms about 0855, with a planned destination of Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport, Bullhead City, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.The pilot reported that after takeoff he retracted the landing gear, but the amber lights indicating it had been stowed did not illuminate, and the landing gear doors remained open. He cycled the landing gear control to the down position, and visually observed the gear extend, however the gear lights did not turn green. He then operated the emergency gear extension handle, but still did not receive an indication that the gear had safely extended. He elected to return to the airport for a precautionary landing, and during the landing roll the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane departed the runway and struck a ditch, collapsing the nose landing gear, and damaging the right wing.

When Charles Henry Mount safely landed his plane Monday night at the Baldwin County Airport, he never imagined what would eventually happen while he greeted family there a few minutes later.As he gathered belongings of his wife and talked with his daughter, just a short time after he landed his 1969 Cessna 177 Cardinal, he looked up and saw his plane rolling backward, according to a report filed by Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jerome Roberts.The Gainesville pilot told the deputy that he ran toward the plane in an attempt to catch up with it and prevent any mishap from taking place.Mount said the closer he got to it, the faster the plane seemed to get.The aircraft eventually rolled backward into a nearby ditch and fence.No one was aboard the plane at the time.It was not immediately known how much damage was done to the fence.The mishap occurred between 6:55 and 7:13 p.m.Roberts said in his report that Mount recalled that he the parking brake on after he landed and parked, approximately 20 yards from a grassy area on the north side of the airport.Mount said he then walked over to his wife’s vehicle and began to retrieve her belongings and spoke to his daughter.It was during that time that the accident happened.Mount later contacted Danny Cox, an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to gain permission to have a local wrecker service pull the aircraft up out of the ditch. Such permission was granted.Source: http://www.unionrecorder.com

Stow Fire Lt. Barry Evers didn’t think twice before he jumped into the Assabet River in Stow to rescue the pilot of an ultralight plane that crashed into the water Tuesday morning.
“The water was perfectly still and we couldn’t see any signs of life,” he said. “I knew additional resources were a ways out so I started to swim.”A short while later, Firefighter Gregory Vogel paddled out toward the plane in a borrowed canoe, arriving before Evers did. Neither Vogel nor Evers knew the injured pilot had already made it to shore.“We thought (the pilot) was still in the plane,” Evers said. “We had no reason to believe otherwise.”The man was taken by ambulance to Lahey Clinic in Burlington, said Fire Chief Joseph Landry, with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries.The pilot was taking off from Skunk Island Airpark on the morning of Nov. 8, but when his plane cleared the trees, it crashed into the river.Evers said the man did not tell him what had happened and the cause of the crash has not yet been determined. The main concern, Evers said, was that gasoline from the plane would leak into the river, although it didn’t appear that the tank had ruptured and the plane did not seem to be heavily damaged.Firefighters from Maynard and Acton also assisted.“This ended as good as we hoped,” Evers said. “It wasn’t as serious as it could have been.”The crash is being investigated by State Police, the Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Aviation Administration.Story and photo gallery: http://stow.wickedlocal.com

STOW, Mass. - An Ultralight plane went down Tuesday morning in Stow, Massachusetts. The plane went down in the Assabet River near Crowe Island around 9 a.m., Stow Police told FOX25.Fire rescuers found a 55-year-old near the shore. Police say he pulled himself out of the plane and and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He was taken to a clinic in Burlington. According to officials, the plane was attempting to take off from Crowe Island Airfield but only made it about 300 yards at tree level before nose-diving into the river. The Federal Aviation Administration, along with other Mass. agencies, are investigating the incident. The plane was carrying less than 5 gallons of fuel, when it crashed.Source: http://www.fox25boston.com

STOW, Mass. —A small ultralight aircraft has crashed into a Massachusetts river and authorities say the pilot was taken to the hospital.The aircraft crashed into the Assabet River in Stow at about 9 a.m. Tuesday.The crash occurred near Crow Island, which has a small airfield.Police say the pilot was taken to Lahey Hospital with minor injuries.No one else was on board.Source: http://www.wcvb.com

NTSB Identification: GAA17CA05714 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Sunday, November 06, 2016 in Mouth of The Big Susitna River, AKProbable Cause Approval Date: 02/06/2017Aircraft: PIPER PA18, registration: N62744Injuries: 1 Uninjured.NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during takeoff from a tidal flat, a strong quartering tailwind gust “hit the tail” and he corrected with rudder. The pilot further reported that as soon as the airplane became airborne another strong quartering tailwind gust pushed the airplane inline to impact a driftwood tree that was lying on the tidal flat. The airplane proceeded to strike and bounce off of the driftwood tree and then descended toward a water channel. The pilot reported that he “did not know exactly what happened”, other than the airplane touched down on the other side of the water channel and the main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the left wingtip hit the ground and the airplane slid to a stop backwards. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:The pilot’s decision to take off with a gusting quartering tailwind and his subsequent loss of airplane control.

NTSB Identification: GAA17CA056
14 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Saturday, November 05, 2016 in Davis, CAProbable Cause Approval Date: 01/18/2017Aircraft: BEECH 76, registration: N6703LInjuries: 2 Uninjured.NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.The flight instructor in the multi-engine airplane reported that during a biennial flight review the pilot released the brakes and added full power for takeoff. The flight instructor further reported that during the takeoff roll he utilized the left engine mixture control to simulate a left engine failure, but the pilot "froze" at the flight controls and the airplane veered to the left. The flight instructor attempted to fail the right engine via the right mixture control in order to regain directional control, but his hand came off the mixture control and the airplane exited the runway. During the runway excursion, the flight instructor "finally got [his] hand back on the right mixture and pulled it to idle cut-off"; subsequently, the nose landing gear collapsed.The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a simulated left engine failure during takeoff. Also causal to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action to maintain directional control and reduce the right engine mixture control.

SML AVIATION LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N6026ZFAA Flight Standards District Office:FAA Denver FSDO-03NTSB Identification: GAA17CA06014 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Sunday, November 06, 2016 in Englewood, COProbable Cause Approval Date: 02/06/2017Aircraft: CESSNA 172, registration: N6026ZInjuries: 3 Uninjured.NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.The pilot reported while en-route about 2,500 feet above ground, under dark night visual meteorological conditions, multiple birds struck both wings and the cowling. The pilot further reported that the airplane had a “harsh rolling tendency to the right and reduced engine power.” Subsequently, the pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control and landed without further incident at an airport about 3 nautical miles away. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:An in-flight collision with multiple birds.

H3 Aviation LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N2CHNTSB Identification: GAA17CA058 14 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Saturday, November 05, 2016 in Valdosta, GAProbable Cause Approval Date: 06/07/2017Aircraft: BEECH 58TC, registration: N2CHInjuries: 3 Uninjured.NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.According to the pilot of the twin-engine airplane, he descended from 7,000 ft and leveled off at 3,000 ft. After leveling off, the fuel quantity indicators fluctuated then showed empty. He recalled that, about 5 minutes after leveling off, the right engine began to run very roughly, so he enriched the right engine’s mixture and activated the auxiliary fuel pump. He added that, subsequently, “the right engine failed and the left engine simultaneously began losing power.” The pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control, began receiving vectors, and the left engine lost power.The pilot pitched the airplane for best glide distance. He selected the nearest suitable landing area, extended the landing gear and flaps, and landed the airplane in a field. During the landing roll, he turned the airplane to the right to avoid a collision with obstacles, and the nose landing gear bounced several times and separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage bulkheads, longerons, and stringers. The pilot believed that, due to his failure to visually check the fuel level, he overestimated the amount of fuel on board. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:The pilot’s failure to ensure that adequate fuel was onboard for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power.According to the pilot of the twin-engine airplane, he was descended from 7,000 ft. and leveled off at 3,000 ft. After leveling off, the fuel quantity indicators fluctuated then showed empty. He recalled that about 5 minutes after leveling off, the right engine began to run very rough, so he enriched the right engine's mixture, and activated the auxiliary fuel pump. Subsequently, "the right engine failed and the left engine simultaneously began losing power". The pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control, began receiving vectors, and the left engine lost power.The pilot pitched the airplane for best glide distance. He selected the nearest suitable landing area, extended the landing gear and flaps, and landed the airplane in a field. During the landing roll, he turned the airplane to the right to avoid a collision with obstacles, the nose landing gear bounced several times and separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage bulkheads, longerons and stringers. The pilot believed that due to his failure to visually check the fuel level, he overestimated the amount of fuel on board. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

MCCORMICK COUNTY, SC (WFXG) - A small plane has gone down in McCormick County. The plane went down in a small wooded area off the side of Hwy. 28 S near Georgia-Pacific Corporation.According to the McCormick County Sheriff’s Office, the plane went down at around 2:30 p.m. Two people were inside and both escaped with no injuries. The pilot says they took off from the nearby McCormick County, headed to Newnan Coweta County Airport and experienced a mechanical failure not long after takeoff. He tried to get the plane back to the airport, but couldn’t make it. He tried to land the plane in a flat driveway next to the lumber yard, but didn’t make it, hitting the treeline instead.The National Transportation Safety Board is taking over the scene and will begin their investigation Thursday morning.Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.wfxg.com

MCCORMICK COUNTY, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) -- According to officials, the small plane that crashed in McCormick County was en route to Newman, Georgia.Shortly after takeoff, the plane developed mechanical issues. The pilot turned back to the airport but was unable to reach the runway in time.The plane crashed on the Georgia Pacific Wood Mill property and was extremely damaged.The two people on board were not severely injured but they are being treated by EMS.According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane was a Diamond DA-20C-1 Eclipse.The Federal Aviation Administration says they will complete an investigation.Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.wrdw.com

McCORMICK COUNTY (WJBF) - Emergency crews responded to the scene of a small plane crash in McCormick County, Wednesday.According to the EMA office, the plane came down around 2:30 p.m. with two people on board.The prop plane crashed on Highway 28 near the wood yard of Georgia Pacific Corporation—no injuries were reported.Investigators tell us the plane went down due to mechanical issues.National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the scene on Thursday.Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.wjbf.comFederal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia
November 06, 2016: Aircraft on landing, nose wheel collapsed.Date:06-NOV-16Time:15:57:00ZRegis#:N346MAAircraft Make:DIAMONDAircraft Model:DA20Event Type:IncidentHighest Injury:NoneDamage:UnknownFlight Phase:LANDING (LDG)City:ATHENSState:Georgia

http://registry.faa.gov/N8030LFAA Flight Standards District Office:FAA Farmingdale FSDO-11AIRCRAFT ON LANDING WENT OFF THE RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS, RONKONKOMA, NEW YORK. Date:04-NOV-16Time:18:50:00ZRegis#:N8030LAircraft Make:CESSNAAircraft Model:172Event Type:IncidentHighest Injury:NoneDamage:UnknownFlight Phase:LANDING (LDG)City:RONKONKOMAState:New York

http://registry.faa.gov/N4252KLocation: San Marcos, TXAccident Number: CEN17LA036Date & Time: 11/06/2016, 1222 CSTRegistration: N4252KAircraft: STINSON L 5Aircraft Damage: SubstantialDefining Event: Fuel starvationInjuries: 2 MinorFlight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - PersonalAnalysisThe private pilot reported that the airplane bounced while landing on the runway, so he conducted a go-around. During climbout, the engine lost power at 500 ft above ground level. The pilot turned the airplane to land on another runway; however, the airplane was not able to reach the runway, so he landed on wet grass between the runways. Upon touchdown, the left main landing gear collapsed when it dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over.The pilot reported that, for the entire flight, he had the fuel selector positioned on the left tank. The pilot added that the airplane usually burned between 9 and 10 gallons of fuel per hour. Therefore, given the flight was about 1 hour 22 minutes long and the tank held 15 gallons of usable fuel, the left tank probably contained about 2 to 3 gallons of usable fuel at the time of the accident. The right fuel tank was full.A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that there was no fuel in the fuel line leading into the engine. The position of the fuel pick-up line in the wing would have allowed the fuel in the wing to unport during the climbing turn. Given the low fuel level in the selected left fuel tank, it is likely that the fuel supply to the engine was interrupted during the climbing turn. If the pilot had selected the full right fuel tank, the loss of power would likely not have occurred. Probable Cause and FindingsThe National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:The pilot's improper fuel management before landing, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent total loss of engine power during a subsequent go-around when the fuel became unported during the climbing turn. FindingsAircraftFuel - Fluid management (Cause)Personnel issuesUse of equip/system - Pilot (Cause)Environmental issuesSoft surface - Contributed to outcomeOn November 6, 2016, about 1222 central standard time, a Stinson L5, N4252K, nosed over during a forced landing at the San Marcos Regional Airport (HYI), San Marcos, Texas. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to a private individual and was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from HYI about 1100.The pilot reported the airplane bounced while landing on runway 13, so he performed a go-around. He reported the engine lost power at an altitude of about 500 ft above the ground during climbout. The pilot made a turn to land on runway 35; however, the airplane was not able to make it to the runway, so he landed on the wet grass between the runways. Upon touchdown, the left main gear collapsed when it dug into the soft terrain and the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and wings.The airplane was full of fuel, 15 gallons usable in each tank, when the flight was initiated. The pilot reported he had the left fuel tank selected during the entire 1 hour, 22-minute-long flight. The pilot reported the fuel quantity indicator showed between ¼ and 3/8 of a tank of fuel remaining in the left fuel tank at the time of the accident. The right fuel tank was full, and the pilot reported he should have switched tanks before the landing. He reported the left fuel tank had previously shown signs of fuel seeping and that the fuel quantity gauges were not reliable. The pilot stated the airplane usually burned between 9 and 10 gallons per hour fuel.A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Inspector revealed fuel was not present in the fuel line leading into the engine and there was very little fuel in the left fuel tank. The inspector stated that the location of the fuel pick-up line in the wing, would have allowed the fuel in the wing to un-port during the climb.NTSB Identification: CEN17LA03614 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Sunday, November 06, 2016 in San Marcos, TXAircraft: STINSON L 5, registration: N4252KInjuries: 2 Minor.This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.On November 6, 2016, about 1222 central standard time, a Stinson L5, N4252K, nosed over during a forced landing at the San Marcos Regional Airport (HYI), San Marcos, Texas. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to a private individual and was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from HYI about 1100.The pilot performed a go-around while landing on runway 13 and the engine lost power during the initial climb. The pilot attempted to land on runway 35; however, the airplane traveled into the wet grass between the runways. The left main gear collapsed when it dug into the soft terrain and the airplane nosed over.